Gavin Rich frames this weekend's Currie Cup action as the last lull before South African rugby enters its most intense stretch of the season — the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks, followed by four consecutive test Saturdays culminating in Baltimore. The piece previews all four fixtures through that lens, with the Stormers-Sharks game drawing particular attention as a wave of Junior World Championship winners make their Currie Cup debuts: Markus Muller, Danie Kruger, and Altus Rabie for the Stormers, with Luan Giliomee and three further U20 players coming in for the Sharks. Rich notes the selection intrigue runs deeper — Yaqeen Ahmed's absence from the Currie Cup match is read as a strong signal he'll wear the 10 jersey in the Stormers' opening RGR tour game against the All Blacks. Elsewhere, the injury toll is mounting sharply: Griquas head into their unbeaten Cheetahs derby nine players down, including Cameron Hufke (PCL and meniscus, season done) and Dylan Maart (shoulder ligaments), while the Bulls XV have lost Nama Xaba for the season alongside a string of further casualties. The two unbeatens — Cheetahs and the fast-emerging Boland Kavaliers — both feature, with Boland hosting the Pumas in Sunday's curtain-closer.
Junior Boks flood in as Currie Cup enters its final quiet weekend before the RGR storm
Rich previews a Currie Cup weekend defined by Junior Bok debuts, mounting injury lists, and the looming shadow of the All Blacks tour — with Yaqeen Ahmed's omission read as a pointer to the Stormers' RGR selection.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
SuperSport giving away tickets to Bok matches across 2026 season
SuperSport is giving away tickets to nearly every Springbok fixture in 2026 — from the home Nations Championship and Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series to the November tour and London finals — as part of a DStv Premium subscriber draw.
Who steps up at hooker if Marx is seriously hurt?
Marx's playoff injury has exposed South Africa's unresolved hooker depth problem. The piece assesses the full candidate pool — Wessels, Grobbelaar, Van Staden, Venter, Dweba and teenage prospect Mnebelele — and what 2026 might look like as the last real development window before the World Cup.
Matthee 'never really been out of the team' as Stormers back him to fill Feinberg-Mngomezulu void against Leinster
Jurie Matthee starts at flyhalf for the Stormers in Saturday's URC semifinal against Leinster in Dublin after Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was ruled out for three months with an ankle injury. Assistant coach Rito Hlungwani says Matthee's integration into the starting side will be seamless, pointing to his consistent involvement in training and a strong record when called upon, including man-of-the-match performances against Benetton in Treviso and the Bulls away. Wing Seabelo Senatla, concussed against Cardiff, also misses the trip.
Dobson: Kolbe returning to win trophies, not to wind down
John Dobson says Cheslin Kolbe has made a major financial sacrifice to return to the Stormers, motivated by winning trophies rather than winding down his career, while warning the franchise is close to its limit on high-profile signings.